Combined dual motion disconnect switch and interrupter attachment



1958 c. R. HUTTINGER COMBINED DUAL MOTION DISCONNECT SWITCH ANDINTERRUPTER ATTACHMENT Filed Jan. 51, 1955 L J v V l J 99 U: INVENTOR. OP 10/ Cmmzz: Fey vino: El 98 a j E] g b'l/TT/NGER BY Erma RE 5.

MM 5 id Armin 4w United States atent COMBINED DUAL MOTION DISCONNECTSWITCH AND TNTERRUPIER ATTACHMENT Charles Reynolds Huttinger,Greensburg, Pa., assigrior to l-T-E Circuit Breaker Company,Philaderphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationJanuary 31,1955, Serial No. 485,223 Claims. (Cl. 200-146) My invention relates tothe combination of an interrupter attachment and a disconnect switchwherein the blade of the disconnect switch revolves about its own axisand subsequently rotates about its hinge during the opening operation.

Disconnect switches are used in high voltage lines where it to inspector repair the line.

The primary function of the disconnect switch is to provide a suflicientairgap so that the load will be completely isolated isolated from thesource. However, this type of switch is usually designed to be opened orclosed on a circuit which is not carrying load circuit. In the event anattempt is made to open a disconnect switch on a circuit whichiscarrying load current, severe damage maybe done to either the switchor the circuitry.

In order: to modify the disconnect switch so that it can be opened oncircuits carrying. load current, these switches have been adapted withinterrupter attachments. The interrupter attachment has a pair ofcooperating contacts which are placed in electrical parallel with thecooperating contacts of the disconnect switch.

During the opening operation of the disconnect switch, electricalengagement between the blades of the switch and the interrupterattachment must be either madeor maintained-so that the interrupterattachment contacts are in parallel with the disconnect switch contactswhen these contacts are opened. Thereafter, the continued openingmovement of the disconnect switch blade makes mechanical engagement withthe operating lever of the interrupter attachment to thereby drive thecooperating contacts of the interrupter attachment open. Thus, all theinterrupting duty is placed on the cooperating contacts of theinterrupter attachment and thereby relieves the main'contacts of thedisconnect switch from this duty. Upon continued opening movement of thedisconnect switch blade, it is necessary that the blade break electricalcontact with the interrupter attachment'so that a sufiicient space,exists between the moving blade and its stationary jaw to provide thenecessary isolation of the load.

During the closing operation of the blade of the disconnect switch, itis necessary gagement between the blade of the disconnect switch and theinterrupter attachment. Thereafter, a mechanical connection is madebetween the blade and a disconnect switch to thereby drive thecooperating contacts isdesirable to isolate the load to enable theworkman 2,324,935 Patented Feb. 25, 1958 ice quence-outlined have beenused in the prior art. However, in the prior art, the interrupterattachment has been successfully adapted to only two types of switch,namely, the single throw disconnect SWIKUD in which 'the blade hasrotation only about its hinge and does not rotate about its own axis.This type of disconnect switch is illustrated in Patent 2,738,402,Patent 2,789,189, Patent 2,787,690, and copending application (E-49)Serial No. 483,737, filed January 24, 1935, all Of which are assigned totheassi'gnee of theinstant application.

In addition to this type of switch, the interrupter attachment has alsobeen applied to side opening disconnect switches of the type shown inPatent 2,688,667 and Patent 2,702,323, both of which are assigned to theassignee of the instant application.

However, in recent years, with the increase in the magnitude "of loadcurrents and available short-circuit currents, thedual motion'typeswitch has been exten= sively u'sedin high ,voltage circuits. This typeof switch has a-bladewhich; during the closing operation, initiallyrotates about its hinge and thereafter makes high contactpressureerigagment with the stationary jaw by revolving'aboutit's ownaxis. Thistype of switch is shown and described iin'Batents' 2,658,964,2,673,902, 2,673,903, 2,673,904 and 2,673,913, all of which are assignedto the assignee of-the instant application.

Since? as above noted; the blade of the disconnect switch 'm'ustboth-:make' electrical and mechanical connection with the interrupterattachment, prior attempts to adapt this type of switch withaninterrupter attachment havenot been'successful. That is, since theblade revolves about its own axis, it also rotates about its pivotalhinge during both the opening andclosing operation. Prior attempts havebeen unsuccessful to enable this dual motion blade to mechanically andelectrically engage an interrupter-attachment during the opening andclosing opera-tion.

My invention is directed to a novel 'c'ombir ationof an interrupterattachment to'a dual motion disconnecrswitch wherein the desired andrequired sequence of operation between these two components'is achievedin spite of'the dualrnotion of the blade. p

Accordingly, a primary object of my inventionis to provide aninterrupter attachment for a' high pressure contacfdisconnec't'switchhaving a blade with dual'motion. 0

ment "without substantial alteration to the disconnect to remakeelectrical enof the interrupter attachment closed prior to the time 3switch'.'-

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from thefollowing description when taken in con-- nection'with the drawings inwhich: v

Figure '1"is a side view of a dual motion disconnect switch in theclosed position. This figure also illustrates thei'nterrupter'attachment adapted to the jaw end of the switch. I

Figuie'2'is an enlarged side view of the jaw end of the combineddisconnect switch and interrupter attachment of Figured. g I A Figure 3is 'an enlarged end view of the. disconnect switch" and interrupterattachment of Figure 1 and is taken in the direction of the arrows 33 ofFigure 2.

Referring first to Figure 1, the disconnect switch 10 is mountedon' thebase 11 which is a suitable longitudinal structural support, in thiscase shown horizontally arranged'for' ahorizontally or upright mounteddisconnect tch-Hi The base 11 has secured thereto in any suitable manneras by'the insulator 's'pa'cer's '1'2 and 13 the stationary up.

right supporting posts 14, on the upper portions of which are mountedinsulators 16, 17.

Base 11 is also provided with the bearing appropriately secured theretoin any suitable manner as by the bolts 21 and carrying the rotatablevertical shaft 22 to the upper end of which is keyed the insulator 23for rotation with the vertical shaft or post 22.

Below insulator 23 there is keyed to the shaft 22 the crank securedthereto in any suitable manner as by the bolts 31 connected to theflange or crank plate 32. Bolts 21 which secure the bearing 20 inposition also secure the stop plate 34 in position, the stop plate beingprovided at opposite ends with the adjustable stops 36, 37 which engageat either end with the stop 38 on the operating crank 30.

While stops 36, 37 are herein provided, the construction and operationof my novel switch is such that it may operate properly without thestops at individual poles; in such case, the stops would be provided atthe operating means for the entire switch.

Where stops are eliminated at all points, then the switch may beoperated by crank 30 to close and then open by a single continuousmovement in one direction to establish a contact momentarily and thenbreak it.

Shaft 22:: extends above the insulator 23 as effectively a continuationof vertical shaft 22, being, however, spaced therefrom by insulator 23.Crank 40 at the upper end of shaft 22a is preferably integral therewithand, therefore, rotates therewith.

Crank 40 extends horizontally or at least parallel with the basesupporting structure 11 and rotates in the horizontal plane. Crank 40 isshown herein as tubular although it may have any desired cross-sectionconsistent with the mechanical loads imposed thereon. The outer end ofcrank 40 is flattened at 41 and is provided with a circular opening 42through which pin 43 may pass.

A clevis member 44 receives the extension 41 and is secured thereto bythe pin 43. Clevis 44 is integral with the threaded extension whichenters into the tapped opening 51 in the forked link 52. The threadedextension 50 is so arranged that as the threaded extension 50 rotateswith respect to the forked link 52 and its tapped opening 51, it haslinear movement with respect thereto.

Link 52 has two legs 54 at the opposite end of the tapped opening 51terminating in the bearings 57.

The blade support sleeve casting 62 carries a tubular switch blade 63secured therein and rotatable therewith. The blade crank 61, which is anextension of the sleeve casting 62, has openings which register with theopenings in the legs 54 so that a pin a passes therethrough. The outerend of the tubular switch blade is flattened at 64 and is provided withappropriate contacts 65 engageable with the stationary contact jaw 66.The blade sleeve casting 62 is mounted for rotation about itslongitudinal axis on an extension of the hinge casting 70. The hingecasting is in turn rotatably mounted on the hinge bearing indicatedgenerally at 72 on the forked frame casting 73.

The frame casting 72 has a horizontal section 74 secured in any suitablemanner as by bolts 75 to the top of the insulator 16. The sides 76 ofthe frame casting 73 provide supports for the hinge bearing 72. Theframe casting 73 also extends toward the end 77 and is provided with anopening properly recessed to form a bearing for the crank 40 and itsshaft 22a. The solid portion 77 of the base casting 73 thenextendsbeyond to form a terminal 80 to which appropriate leads may beconnected.

7 The stationary contact 66 comprised of the plurality of contact blades-91 has each side biased toward each other by a spring support member 92and 93. The blade beaver-tail 64 enters at an angle to the horizontalduring the closing operation, and will clear the stationary contacts9091 on each side. These contacts are so arranged, however, that whenthe blade 63 is thereafter rotated about its own axis, the beaver tailportion 64 in turn will rotate to its horizontal position and willspread the stationary contacts 90--91 on each side against the tensionof the 1 springs 92-93 thereby creating the desired contact pressure.The spring blades 9293 are current conducting and are connected in anysuitable manner to the base plate 99 as for example by bolts 98.

The base plate 99 is secured to the insulator 17 in any suitable manneras for example by means of the bolts 100 which also serve to secure theinterrupter attachment maintaining bracket thereto.

The base 99 of the stationary contact structure has an extension 101which serveslas a terminal block or connecting member. Thus, when thedisconnect switch 10 is in the closed position of Figure 1, currententers through the terminal 89, passes through frame casting 73 to the'hinge bearing 72, then through the current carrying connection in thehinge bearing '72, the hinge casting 70, then through current carryingconnection of the contact blade to the switch blade 63, then through thebeaver tail 64 to the stationary contacts 90 and 91, then through thebase 99 to the terminal extension 101.

when the switch .10 is in the fully closed position illus trated inFigure 1, then initial rotation of the operating crank 36 will betransmitted through the crank 40 to the link 52 and will result ininitial rotation of the blade 63 about its own axis. This initialrotation of the blade r 63 about its own axis will relieve the highpressure engagement between its beaver tail 64 and its stationarycontacts 90-91.

Continued rotation of the operating crank 3i) will thereby betransmitted through the members 4 52 to thereby move the blade 63 aboutits hinge support 72. In like manner, the closing operation is achievedby this dual rotation.

Opposite rotation of the operating crank 36 will then be transmittedagain through the members 4B-52 so that the blade 63 will be initiallyrotated about its pivot 72. As it enters the jaw formed by thestationary contacts 9t 91, it will be rotated about its own axis tothereby make high pressure contact engagement with the stationarycontacts. 1

A detailed description of the switch and its operation is contained inPatent 2,673,902.

In Figures 2 and 3, I have shown an enlarged View of the manner in whichthe interrupter attachment is placed on the disconnect switch it) sothat the desired mechanical and electrical sequence of operation can beobtained even though the blade 63 has dual motion.

The interrupter attachment is of the type and opcrates as shown anddescribed in copending application Serial No. 483,737, filed January 24,1955, which is assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. Theinterrupter attachment 130 is provided with a housing which has anoperating shaft 180 extending through one side thereof. The operatinglever 150 is rigidly secured to the operating shaft 189.

The interrupter attachment also has an interrupting chamber with amounting base muffier 172 at the bottom thereof. The base 172 isprovided with mounting lugs 176 so that the interrupter attachment 130can be mechanically and electrically secured to the mounting bracketsupport 12 The other end of the mounting bracket support 126 ismechanically and electrically secured to the base 99 of the switch 10 bymeans of the bolts 100.

The stationary contact contained within the interrupting chamber 144) ispermanently and electrically connected to the base 172 in a manner fullydescribed in the above mentioned application, Thus, the stationarycontact of the interrrupter attachment is permanently and electricallyconnected to the jaw end of the disconnect switch 10 through the base172, supporting base 120 to the base plate 99.

The movable contact of the interrupter attachment 130 is permanentlyelectrically connected to the conductive housing 135. A stationary shunthorn 131 is rigid= 'ly' mechanically and electricallysecured totheahousing 135 by means of the horn clamp 132 and :the boltsxl33.

As heretofore noted, theiblade 63 has a beaver tail portion 64 by whichit makeshighpressure contact engagement with the jaw end 90-91 of thedisconnect switch. In order. to adapt the disconnectswitch to the propermechanical andv electrical sequence of operation with theinterrupterattachment, an extension isprovided on the blade 63-64. Theextension is comprised of a lock nut 105 which is secured to the beavertail 64 in any desirable manner. A cylindrical conductive section 106,which may be threadably engaged with the lock nut 105, is provided as anextensionfor the blade 63-64 and hence, is at the same potential as theblade .63.

The resilient stationary shunt horn 131 is properly positioned so thatit is biased toward and into electrical engagement with the extension106 of the blade 63. Thus, as clearly seen in Figures land 3, theinterrupter attachment 130 is electrically connected in parallel withthe jaw and blade of the disconnect switch .10.

By providing a cylindrical extension 106 .for the blade 103, therelative position of this unit with respect to the stationary arcinghorn 131 remains the same when the blade 63 is initially rotated aboutits own axis. That is,

since the stationary arcing horn 131 is biased into electricalengagement with the extension 106, the rotation of the member 106 aboutits own axis will not disengage or change the relative position of thismember in a .horizontal plane with respect to the horn 131.

Thus, during the initial opening operation of the disconnect switch 10,electrical engagement can either be made or maintained. with theinterrupter attachment130.

Following the rotation of the blade 63 about its own axis to therebydisengage the beaver tail 64 from the cooperating jaws 90-91, the bladeis rotated about its hinge 72. Thus, the extension 106 will move in anarcuate path upwardly and will retain its electrical engagement with thestationary shunt horn 131.

As seen in the figures, the pin 1410 is positioned within the arcuatepath of the extension 106 of the blade 63. Hence, during the openingoperation, the-extension 106 will engage the pin 1410 thereby rockingthe operating lever in a clockwise direction about its axis .180. Aftera predetermined rotation of the operating lever 15%), the cooperatingcontacts within .the interrupting chamber will 'be opened with snapaction as .fully described in the above noted copending application.Thereafter, the blade 63 willcontinue to rotate upwardly and itsextension 106 will both'disengage the pin 1410, which will have rotatedout of the path of movement of the extension 196, and also eventuallydisengage the stationary shunt horn 131 when the blade 63 is rotated toa position which is approximately 30 to 40 to its fully closed positionillustrated in Figure 1. At this time, the operating lever will assumethe dotted position illustrated in Figure 2.

Thus, it will be noted that during the opening operatic-n, bothelectrical and mechanical engagement between the blade 63 and theinterrupter attachment 130 can be maintained even though the blade 63has dual motion, namely, about its own axis and about its hinge.Furthermore, a proper sequence of operation is still obtained in spiteof the dual motion of the blade, namely, the electrical engagement withthe interrupter attachment prior to the disengagement of the maincontacts of the disconnect switch, the mechanical engagement with theinterrupter and also the mechanical and electrical disengagement betweenthe disconnect switch and the interrupter after the disconnect switchcontacts have opened and the interrupter attachment contacts have openedin that order.

The reverse of the above noted sequence also occurs during the closingoperation in spite of the dual motion operation of the blade 63. Thatis, during the closing operation, the extension 106 of the blade 63initially crating lever extending makes contact with the stationaryshunt horn 131. There after; it engagesthe pin 1410 of the operatinglever (which is in the dotted position of Figure 2) and rotatesthismember in a counterclockwise direction so that thecooperatingcontacts of the interrupter attachment are now closed with snap actionbefore the main contacts of the disconnect switch are closed.Thereafter, the main contacts of the disconnect switch are closed andsince. the contacts of the interrupter attachment. which are connectedin parallel therewith, have already closed, there will be no arcing ordamage to the contacts of the disconnect switch.

Thus, I have provided a novel arrangement wherein an interrupterattachment having a single operating lever for both opening and closingthe cooperating contacts is mounted on a disconnect switch having ablade with dual motion and in which the desired and required sequence ofmechanical and electrical operation is obtained inspite of the dualmotion of the blade.

in the foregoing, I have described my invention only in connection withpreferred embodiments thereof. Many variations and modifications of theprinciples of my invention within the scope of the description hereinare obvious. Accordingly, I prefer to be bound not by the specificdisclosure herein but only by the appending claims.

Iclaim:

1. A disconnect switch having a hinge end and a jaw end; a bladepivotally supported at said hinge end; means to rotate said blade aboutsaid hinge end and about its own axis into high pressure contactengagement with said jaw end; an interrupter attachment being comprisedof a housing section and an interrupter section; an opfrom one side ofsaid housing .section for controlling the opening and closing ofcooperating-contacts within said interrupter section; a conducting buson said interrupter section mounted at the jaw end of said disconnectswitch; a stationary shunt horn mounted on the housing of saidinterrupter attachment; said blade of said disconnect switch having anextension made of conducting material; said stationary shunt hornoperatively positioned in electrical engagement with said extension ofsaid blade; said extension .engaging said operating lever during theopening operation' of said disconnect switch while maintaining elec-.trical engagement with said stationary shunt horn; said extensionoperative to rotate said operative lever to effect contact disengagementwithin said arc chamber while maintaining electrical engagement withsaid stationary shunthorn; said extension disengaging said stationaryshunt horn when said blade of said disconnect switch is moved to a fullyopen position.

2. A disconnect switch having a hinge end and a jaw end; a bladepivotally supported at said hinge end; means to rotate said blade aboutsaid hinge end and about its own axis into high pressure contactengagement with said jaw end; an interrupter attachment being comprisedof a housing section and an interrupter section; an operating leverextending from one side of said housing section for controlling theopening and closing of cooperating contacts within said interruptersection; a conducting bus on said interrupter section mounted at the jawend of said disconnect switch; a stationary shunt horn mounted on thehousing of said interrupter attachment; said blade of said disconnectswitch having an extension made of conducting material; said stationaryshunt horn operatively positioned in electrical engagement with saidextension of said blade; said extension engaging said operating leverduring the opening operation of said disconnect switch while maintainingelectrical engagement with said stationary shunt horn; said extensionoperative to rotate said operative lever to effect contact disengagementwithin said are chamber while maintaining electrical engagement withsaid stationary shunt horn; said extension disengaging said stationaryshunt horn when said blade of said disconnect switch is moved to a fullyopen position; said shunt horn and said operating lever positioned inthe path' of movement of said extension when saidblade of saiddisconnect switch is moved from the fully open position to the fullyclosed position. t

3. A disconnect switch having a hinge end and .a jaw end; a bladepivotally supported at said hinge end; means to rotate said. blade aboutsaid hinge end and about its own axis into high pressure contactengagement with said jaw end; an interrupter attachment being comprisedof a housing section and an interrupter section; an operating leverextending from one side of said housing section for controlling theopening and closing of cooperating contacts within said interruptersection; a conducting bus on said interrupter section'mounted at the jaw.end of said disconnect switch; a stationary shunt horn mounted on thehousing of said interrupter attachment; said blade of said disconnectswitch having an extension made of conducting material; said stationaryshunt horn operatively positioned in electrical engagement with saidextension of said blade; said extension engaging said operating leverduring the opening operation of said disconnect switch while maintainingelectrical engagement with said stationary shunt horn; said extensionoperative to rotate said operative lever to effect contact disengagementwithin said are chamber while maintaining electrical engagement withsaid stationary shunt horn; said extension disengaging said stationaryshunt horn when said blade of said disconnect switch is moved to a fullyopen position; said extension engaging said stationary shunt horn andsaid operating lever when said blade of said disconnect switch is movedfrom the fully open position to the fully closed position; saidextension maintaining electrical engagement with said stationary shunthorn when said extension mechanically moves said operating lever fromopen to closed position during the closing operation of said disconnectswitch.

4. A disconnect switch having a hinge and jaw end; a blade pivotaliymounted on said hinge end; means to rotate said blade about said hingeend and also to rotate said blade about its own axis in high pressureengagement with said jaw end; an interrupter attachment secured to thejaw end of said disconnect switch; said interrupter attachment having anoperating lever with a first and second position; said operating leveroperatively connected to disengage cooperating contacts of saidinterrupter attachment when moved from said first position to saidsecond position; said operating lever operative to efiect engagement ofcooperating contacts of said interrupter attachment when said operatinglever is moved from said second position to said first position; saidblade of said disconnect switch sequentially making electrical andmechanical engagement with said interrupter attachment during theopening and closing operation of said disconnect switch; said bladeoperative to move said operating lever from said first position to saidsecond position while maintaining electrical engagement with saidinterrupting attachment during the opening operation of said disconnectswitch said blade operative to move said operating lever in secondposition to said first position while maintaining electrical engagementwith said interrupting attachment during the closing operation of saiddisconnect switch.

' 5. A disconnect switch having a hinge end and a jaw end; a bladepivotally supported at said hinge end; means to rotate said blade aboutsaid hinge end and about its own axis into high pressure contactengagement with said jaw end; an interrupter attachment being comprisedof a housing section and an interrupter section; an operating leverextending from one side of said housing section for controlling theopening and closing of cooperating contacts within said interruptersection; a conducting bus on said interrupter section mounted at the jawend of said disconnect switch; a stationary shunt horn mounted on thehousing of said interrupter attachment; said blade of said disconnectswitch having an extension made of conducting material; said stationaryshunt horn opera tively positioned in electrical engagement with saidextension of said blade; said extension engaging said operating leverduring the opening operation of said disconnect switch while maintainingelectrical engagement with said stationary shunt horn; said extensionoperative to rotate said operative lever to effect contact disengagementwithin said are chamber while maintaining electrical engagement withsaid stationary shunt horn; said extension disengaging said stationaryshunt horn when said blade of said disconnect switch is moved more than40 toward open position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,963,418 Pittman et al June 19, 1934 2,172,225 Schofield et al. Sept.5, 1939 2,351,826 Lindell et al. June 20, 1944 2,601,138 Hart June 17,1952 2,673,902 Heberlein Mar. 30, 1954 2,697,153 Owens et al. Dec. 14,1954

